Boston University: Acceptance Rate and Admissions Statistics

Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with over 20 years of experience helping students transition to college.

Boston University is a private research university with an acceptance rate of 18.9%. To apply, students can use the Common Application or Coalition Application. BU has an Early Decision program that can improve admission chances for students who are sure the university is their top choice school.

Considering applying to Boston University? Here are the admissions statistics you should know, including the average SAT/ACT scores and GPAs of admitted students.

Why Boston University?

• Location: Boston, Massachusetts
• Campus Features: One of dozens of Boston area colleges, Boston University's urban campus sits near both Fenway Park and the Charles River Esplanade. The MBTA Green Line has several stops on campus.
• Student/Faculty Ratio: 10:1
• Athletics: The Boston University Terriers compete in the NCAA Patriot League and Hockey East Conference.
• Highlights: BU typically ranks among the top 50 universities in the United States. Even though the school is one of the largest private universities in the country, students receive a lot of personal attention from the faculty and staff.

Acceptance Rate

During the 2018-19 admissions cycle, Boston University had an acceptance rate of 18.9%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 18 students were admitted, making BU's admissions process highly competitive.

The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Boston University. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in with a free Cappex account.

Admissions Chances

Boston University has a highly competitive admissions pool with a low acceptance rate and high average SAT/ACT scores. However, BU has a holistic admissions process involving other factors beyond your grades and test scores. A strong application essay and glowing letters of recommendation can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful extracurricular activities and a rigorous course schedule. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their test scores are outside Boston University's average range.

Admission standards at BU vary by school and college. Applicants to the College of Fine Arts must audition or submit a portfolio, and applicants to the university's Accelerated Medical Program have additional testing and course requirements.

In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students, and you can see that most admitted students had averages of B+ or higher, SAT scores (ERW+M) above 1200, and ACT composite scores above 25. Even if Boston University is a match school in relation to your credentials, you should still make sure that you apply to a couple of safety schools in case the admissions decision doesn't go your way.